Push button switch having indicator means



Aug. 9, 1966 c. E. PAIN PUSH BUTTON SWITCH HAVING INDICATOR MEANS Filed Jan. 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. 61/0242: 2. P/Mv Arron/5y:

Aug. 9, 1966 c. E. PAIN 3,265,847

PUSH BUTTON SWITCH HAVING INDICATOR MEANS Filed Jan 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3. INVENTOR.

. BY 5 'QAAMLJJM Arron/sys- United States Patent 3,265,847 PUSH BUTTON SWITCH HAVING INDECATQR MEANS Charles E. Pain, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to The Telex Corporation, Tulsa, Okla. a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 338,118 12 Claims. (Cl. 200167) This invention relates generally to electrical switching apparatus and is more particularly directed to electrical switching apparatus utilizing push button actuators for controlling the operation of one or more current controlling devices.

As will be descibed in greater detail below, my invention is concerned with improvements in push button switching apparatus which cooperate to provide apparatus that'is more versatile, more easily assembled into other equipment, and more easily serviced without the necessity for complicated special purpose tools and procedures. It may further be appreciated by those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with the principles of my invention that my invention is comprised of a number of elements that may be easily and efliciently manufactured out of commonly available materials without requiring close fitting parts having critical manufacturing dimension requirements.

In particular, my invention provides an improved and novel unitary electrical push button switching device having improved mounting means, switch contact actuating means and easily accessible and removable illumination means.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an improved push button electrical switching device.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved electrical switching device which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. into equipment utilizing such switches.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved means and apparatus for providing illumination within the housing of a push button switching device.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved actuator mechanism in a push button electrical switching device.

A still further object of my invention is to provide improved mounting means for electrical switching means.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the appended specification, claims and drawing, in which FIGS. 1 and 2. are exploded views, partly in section, of the top and side portions of an electrical switch embodying the principles of my invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an assembled electrical switch; FIG. 4 is a side view of an assembled electrical switch shown in position in an aperture on a portion of a panel;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partly sectioned assembly of the elements of FIGS. 1 and 2;

' FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views taken along section lines 66, 77 and 8-8 on FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are sectional views taken along section lines 99 and 1010 on the right hand portion of FIG. 1 respectively.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements may be identified by like reference characters, it may be seen that my electrical switch is comprised generally of a housing member 10, an electrical switch assembly 50, a

stationary base comprised of a pair of members 70 and 90, an actuator means 130 and a lamp holder assembly 160. When the aforementioned elements are assembled in the manner illustrated on FIG. 5 of the drawing, and from a consideration of the detailed description of the elements set forth below, the cooperation of the elements and efficiency of operation will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art with which my invention is concerned.

Referring now to the right end of FIGS. 1 and 2 and to the sectional views in FIGS. 9 and 10, it may be seen that housing 10 is comprised of a front section 11 and a rear section 12 appended thereto. Rear section 12 is generally rectangular in cross section and includes an inwardly extending ridge 13 at its rearmost end which is adapted to be engaged by switching means to be positioned within rear portion 12. Front portion 11 is also of generally rectangular cross section and is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending inwardly facing grooves 14, which are complementary disposed on the sides of portion 11 and a further pair of longitudinally extending inwardly facing grooves 15 which are complementary disposed on the top and bottom of front portion 11. Positioned at the front side ends of front portion 11 are a pair of barrier portions 16 which extend from a laterally extending raised, or boss, portion 17. Barriers 16 extend beyond the top and bottom of portion 2% to provide engagement with the front side of a panel in proximity to an aperture therein. Raised portion 17 is provided with a rearwardly facing groove 18 and an aperture 19 extending generally parallel to groove 18 and completely through the sides of front portion 11. A substantially C-shaped resilient member 20 is positioned in grooves 18 and apertures 19 and may be comprised of suitable resilient material, such as piano wire, which will tend to assume and maintain the shape shown, for example, on FIG. 4. It may be noted that the laterally disposed portions of member 20 are resiliently movable toward one another under the influence of an external force and are provided with somewhat diagonally extending portions at the rearward end for cooperation with suitable apertures in mounting panels to move the laterally extending portions on the front of member 20 toward one another in aperture 19 to allow easy insertion into a mounting aperture. The embodiment shown, further includes laterally extending portions intermediate the rearward end of portion 11 and the abutting end of portion 12 of housing 10. A plurality of apertures are provided for assembly of the device and include at least a pair of apertures 21 which are in axial alignment with grooves 14 for receiving the ends of a pair of latching and contact members 100, a plurality of apertures 22 through which further suitable contact members 97 may extend and a further pair of apertures 23 which may be used for mounting the stationary base, to be described below, within housing 10. With the exception of apertures 21 which are located in alignment with grooves 14, the position of the other apertures may vary and may easily be determined by one skilled in the art with which this invention is concerned.

Switch contact assembly 50 is comprised of a plurality of generally longitudinally extending parallel contact pairs 51 which are suitably mounted in mounting means 52. A plurality of actuators including means for effecting contact between predetermined contact members are rotat- =ably journaled about a pin member 54 and are positioned intermediate corresponding pairs of contact members 51. Actuator members 53 are adapted to be simultaneously moved between the position indicated by reference numeral 53 and the dotted phantom position indicated by reference numeral 53a, by suitable means to be described below.

A latching cam portion 55 is stationarily mounted upon mounting means 52 of switch contact assembly 50 and is provided to latchably engage a portion of a push button actuator assembly which will be described in detail below. Switch contact assembly 50 is dimensioned to be stationarily positioned within the rear portion 12 of housing 10 in abutment with the inwardly extending rim portion 13 thereon and may be held in place through suitable fastening means, for example, epoxy type adhesive. Switch contact assembly 50, in the illustrated embodiment, utilizes the principles of operation which are described in detail in the H. L. Daniels U.S. Patent No. 3,019,323 issued January 30, 1962 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The particular form of switch contact apparatus will depend upon the application to which electrical switch devices utilizing the principles of my invention are applied and the illustrative embodiment is not intended to in any way limit the scope of my invention in this regard.

The stationary base is comprised of members 70 and 90 which are suitably dimensioned for insertion into front portion 11 on housing and, as will be explained below, are stationarily mounted to provide a unitary base assembly therein.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 of the drawings, base member 70 includes a rearwardly extending portion 72 and a transversely extending groove 71 extending between the top and bottom edge surfaces thereof in general parallelism with the raised portion 72, a pair of mounting apertures 73 disposed and adapted to register with the apertures 23 on housing 10, a plurality of contact pin receiving apertures 74 adapted to register with like apertures on body member 90 and to receive the contact pins 95, to be described below, a plurality of further contact receiving apertures 75 adapted to register with apertures 22 and housing member 10, a rearwardly extending well 76 adapted to receive a spring biasing member 77, a U-shaped groove portion 78 extending from the front to the rear of the top edge of member 70 for slidably receiving a contact actuator to be described below, and a pair of raised boss portions at the center of the side edges adapted to coact with and retain a pair of latching contact members, 100, as will be described below.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, body member 90 includes a rearwardly facing groove, 91, extending transversely between the top and bottom edges thereof, a corresponding front facing raised portion 92 which includes a notched groove 93 extending front to rear at the top and bottom edges, for slidably receiving actuator 130, a plurality of apertures, 94, for slidably receiving a like plurality of contact pin members 95 which are spring biased upwardly by compression springs 96 extending intermediate the top surface of inwardly extending, apertured contact members 97, said contact members 97 extending at right angles through a plurality of notches 98 at the corners of member 90. The rear ends of contact pin members 95 are suitably configured to retain the same in axially slidable position in body member 90 and contact members 97 and may be extended downwardly under suitable forces into the apertures 74 provided in member 70.

A pair of latching contact members 100 are illustrated as having a latch receiving aperture 102 and locating lug 101 provided at their forward ends, a boss receiving aperture 103 adapted to coact with boss members 79 on the side edges of body member 70 intermediate the ends, and a terminal portion 104 at the rear ends for connection to a suitable source of electrical energy.

Actuator 130 is of generally U-shaped configuration including a pair of generally longitudinally extending side portions 131 and 132 having ribs 133 and 134 respectively extending inwardly therefrom and inwardly extending portions 135 and 136 respectively for coaction with suitable recesses 150 in push button member 151 for releasably engaging the same. Longitudinally extending members 131 and 132 are interconnected by a body por-- tion 137 extending laterally therebetween. Body portion 137 has a rearwardly extending protuberance 138 that is adapted to coact with spring member 77 for resiliently biasing actuator 130 in a forward direction relative to base member 70. Actuator 130 also includes a laterally displaced longitudinally extending portion which is adapted to coact with and extend through groove 78 in body member and, in the illustrative embodiment, includes suitable means 140 for coacting with latching cam member 55 on switch assembly 50, and a laterally extending pin member for coaction with actuators 53 on the switch assembly 50 to actuate the same between the positions shown on FIG. 2 of the drawing. Actuator 130 may be constructed as one part by suitable molding, or the like, processes and the portion 139 extending rearwardly may be of any suitable configuration to coact with various forms of switch contact assemblies as will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon learning the principles of my invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings, lamp holder 160 is comprised of an insulating base 161 which is provided with a plurality of apertures 162 adapted to slidably receive a like plurality of electric lamps 163 which, in the embodiment shown, are of the type having a radially extending flange near the bottom or rear central contact thereof. Apertures 162 are provided to maintain the individual lamps in registration with contact pins on base member 90 so as to provide connection with one of the terminals on the lamp. A lifting portion 164 extends forwardly of base member 161 and a conductive latching and contact member is shown having a body portion covering substantially the rear portion of body member 161, having suitable apertures 166 in registration with apertures 162 in body member 161 for receiving and conductively engaging the flanged base portions of lamps 163, and having forwardly extending portions 167 positioned in suitable notches in the sides of body member 61 and each of the forwardly extending portions 167 having an outwardly laterally extending latch portion 168 for engagement with apertures 102 in latching contact members 100. As will be noted at the left end of FIG. 1, forwardly extending portions 167 are resiliently spring biased outwardly and may, by the use of suitable means, be defiected inwardly to disengage latching portions 168 from apertures 102 in latching contact members 100. Conductive member 165 serves to complete a circuit from the right hand ends of latching contact members to the bases of lamps 163 for a suitable source of electrical energy.

In FIG. 4 the relationship of the panel mounting features of my invention is shown in side elevation on a broken away cross-sectioned panel having a suitable aperture substantially the size of the outer dimensions of housing 10 exclusive of the barrier portions 16. As illustrated in FIG. 3, electrical switching devices constructed according to the principles of my invention may be mounted in abutting side by side relationship in, for example, a continuous aperture.

In FIG. 5 an enlarged view, partly in section, shows an assembled electrical switch device with the push button actuator in its normal, or rest position. After the various parts indicated on FIGS. 1 and 2 have been manufactured and assembled, further assembly of switch contact assembly 50, base member 70, actuator member 130, base member 90 and latching contact members 100 in the relationship shown in FIG. 5 provides a sub-assembly which may easily be inserted into housing 10 from the front end of portion 11 and a pair of tubular rivet like members may be inserted through apertures 99 in base member 90, apertures 73 in base member 70 and apertures 23 in housing 10 and base members 90 and 70 are stationarily mounted in the position shown on FIG. 5.

Switch contact assembly 50 may be stationarily held in position by suitably dimensioning rear portion 12 of housing 10 or by the use of suitable fastening or adhesive means. Actuator is slidably journaled in grooves 15 on the top and bottom of front portion 11 of housing 10 and transversely extending portion 137 on actuator 130 extends through an opening defined and provided by grooves 71 and 91 in base members 79 and 90 respectively. The spring biasing means 77 extends intermediate the well, or recess, 76, in body member 70 and the protuberance 138 on the rear portion of transversely extending portion 137 on actuator 130 to thereby tend to bias actuator member 130 to its frontmost position as indicated on FIG. 5. It may be noted that actuator 130 is operable through a distance indicated by the reference" character X and, in the described embodiment, the effective distance between positions of latching and unlatching is indicated by the reference character Y.

Contact members 97 extend from the front of base member 90 through the notches in the corners thereof, through the apertures 75 in body member 70, through apertures 22 in housing to a position readily accessible for connection to a suitable source of electrical energy.

Latching contact members 100 are shown positioned adjacent and overlying grooves 14 in the sides of portion 11 of housing 10 and the outwardly extending lug portions 101, in proximity to apertures 102, are positioned in the grooves. The lower end of latching contact members 100 extends through apertures 21 in housing 10 for connection to a suitable source of electrical energy (not shown).

Removable lamp carrier assembly 160 is shown in its latched position with the bases of the lamps 163 in current conducting contact with contact member 165 and the centrally located electrodes on the lower portion of lamps 163 in electrically conductive contact with the top of contact pin members 95 which are spring biased upwardly by spring members 96. The forwardly extending portions 167 of contact 165 are positioned adjacent the front portions of latching contact members 100 and the transversely extending latching lug portions 168 are engaged in apertures 102 in latching contact members 100 to securely and removably retain lamp contact holder assembly 160 in operative current conductive cooperating position with the other elements of my invention. Inwardly extending raised portions 135 and 136 on axially extending portions 131 and 132 of actuator 130 are positioned in recesses 150 in push button 151 to removably retain the same in position for convenient digital contact by an operator.

-As may be appreciated from a consideration of FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, insertion and removal of electrical switching apparatus embodying the principles of my invention is easily accomplished. To mount the device on a panel, a suitable aperture substantially the size of the front portion 11 of housing 10, not including barrier members 16, is provided in a panel. The rear end of housing 10 is inserted in the opening and a pressure is applied, as in FIG. 4, from left to right and subsequent movement of the assembly through the aperture in the panel will result in laterally inward movement of the top and bottom portions of member until the rear portions of barrier members 16 engage and abut the front, or left side of panel 170. Member 20, being constructed of suitable resilient material, will then tend to assume the position shown in FIG. 4 with the top and bottom portions in abutting engaging relationship with the rear top and bottom edges of the aperture in panel 170 to thereby securely retain the electrical switching device in position on the panel. Removal of the device is easily accomplished by applying forces to the top and bottom of member 20 and withdrawing the assembly from the aperture in the panel.

Actuator 130 is shown in the described embodiment as having a rearwardly extending portion 139 upon which is mounted a cam engaging member 140 and a contact actuator engaging member 141. Upon becoming familiar with the principles of my invention, modifications of this portion of actuator 130 will become apparent to those skilled in the art in utilizing the principles of my invention in combination with other forms of switch contact assemblies, for example, the familiar miniature snap-acting switches. Various other forms of latching apparatus may also be utilized, where desiralble, without departing from the spirit of my invention. As may also now be apparent to those skilled in the art, the particular contact base arrangement utilized for conductively receiving lamps 163 may result in some modification to contact member 165 and apertures 162 extending from the front to rear surfaces of base 161 on removable lamp contact assembly 160.

When it is desired to replace or have access to lamp carrying assembly 160, push button member 151 may easily be removed by inserting, for example, a small screw driver tip intermediate the sides of portion 11 of housing 10 and under the lip member extending around the front, side and top and bottom periphery of push button 151 to disengage the same from portions and 166 on actuator 130. Then, by inserting, for example an operators fingers, or a suitable simple tool having ends adapted to engage the front ends of portions 167 on contact member 165, latching lug portions 168 may be moved laterally inwardly toward the center of body 161 to disengage the same from apertures 102 in latching contact members 100. Lamp contact assembly may then be withdrawn from the front of housing 10.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Electrical push button switching apparatus comprising in combination;

(a) a longitudinally elongated hollow housing memer having at least a front portion of non-circular cross-sectional shape, said front portion including an inwardly opening pair of complementary positioned inwardly opening longitudinally extending grooves along the top and bottom thereof, a pair of inwardly opening longitudinally extending complementary positioned grooves along the sides thereof said last named grooves being axially aligned with apertures extending through the rear of said front portion, a pair of raised boss members complementary disposed on the outside of the sides of said front portion said raised portion including a rearwardly facing groove and a transversely extending aperture and said housing having complementary disposed barrier portions extending forwardly of said front portion and being dimensioned so as to engage the front surface panel;

(b) U-shaped actuator means having a pair of longitudinally extending portions slidably disposed in said first named grooves and a laterally extending portion interconnecting said last named portions at their rearward extremities, the front portions of said longitudinally extending portions including inwardly extending portions for removably engaging a push button member;

(0) first and second stationarily mounted base members fixedly mounted at the rear end of said front portion, said base members including a laterally extending groove for receiving the laterally extending portion on said actuator means and one of said base members including a pair of grooves disposed in the top and "bottom edges thereof slidably receiving the longitudinally extending portions of said actuator means, a plurality of contact members extending through apertures disposed in cooperative registration with further apertures at the rear end of the front portion in said housing and extending forwardly of said first and second body members and laterally of one of said body members into registration wit-h apertures therein, said contact members having apertures at each extremity and a spring biased conductive pin reciprocably journaled in the ends of said contact members laterally disposed on the front side of one of said body members;

(d) a pair of longitudinally elongated latching contact members, each having a latching aperture at the front end, .a retaining aperture intermediate the ends,

7 and 'a further aperture at the rear end adapted to extend through the rear end of the front portion of said housing, said latching contact members being positioned in overlying relationship to the grooves disposed in the sides of the front portion of said housing member and including an outwardly extending lug in proximity to said latching aperture and disposed in said aperture;

(e) a lamp holder assembly slidably disposed within the front portion of said housing and having grooved portions in the top and bottom edges thereof for slidably receiving said actuator and having a contact member mounted in registration with apertures therein for receiving and conductively engaging illumination means, said contact member also having a pair her including a lateral aperture extending intermeof forwardly extending resilient portions, each of diate the grooves in said housing; Said resilient Portions having an outwardly eXtendiIlg (c) actuator means having a pair of laterally disposed, lateral latching Portion adapted to latchingly and longitudinally extending portions reciprocably jourcpndllctively engage the apertmes in the from F naled in said grooves and having a laterally extendtlons of sald latchmg conduftor members; and ing portion extending intermediate one end'of said (f) Push button member havmg ,complementary longitudinally extending portions and disposed in the g s i g gi g 3 :i ggg figgfi g figjg 83$: laterally extending aperture in said base member; and of said actuator means. y g P (d) switching means stationarily mounted on one end 2. Electrical push button switching apparatus comprisof Sald housmg m Operatlve engagement wlth Said actuator means.

ing in combination' 4. Electrical switching apparatus comprising in com- (a) .a longitudinally elongated hollow housing member having at least a front portion of non-circular crosssectional shape, said front portion including an inwardly opening pair of complementary positioned longitudinally extending grooves along the top and bottom thereof, a pair of inwardly opening longitudinally extending complementary positioned grooves along the sides thereof said last named grooves being axially aligned with apertures extending through the rear of said front portion, mounting means disposed on the outside of said front portion;

(b) a U-shaped actuator means having a pair of longitudinally extending portions slidably disposed in said groove receiving the laterally extending portion on said actuator means, one of said base members including a pair of grooves disposed in the top and bottom edges slidably receiving the longitudinally extending portions of said actuator means, a plurality of contact members extending through apertures disposed in cooperative registration with further apertures at the rear end of said front portion in said housing and extending forwardly of said base members and laterally of one of said base members into registration with apertures therein, said contact members having apertures at each extremity and a spring biased conductive pin reciprocably journaled in the ends of said contact members laterally disposed on (e) a lamp holder assembly remova'bly disposed within the front portion of said housing and having grooved portions in the top and bottom edges thereof slidably receiving said actuator and having a contact member mounted in registration with apertures therebination;

(a) an elongated hollow housing, said housing having at least a pair of complementary disposed inwardly opening longitudinally extending grooves;

(b) a base member stationarily mounted within said housing intermediate the ends thereof, said base member including a lateral aperture extending intermediate the grooves in said housing;

(0) actuator means having a pair of laterally disposed longitudinally extending portions reciproeably journaled in said grooves and having a laterally extending portion extending intermediate one end of said fi t named grooves and a laterally extending Portion longitudinally extending portions and disposed in the interconnecting said last named portion at their rearextendmg aperture Said 12356 member;

d extremitigs; (d) blasing means dlSPOSGd intermediate the lateral (c) a pair of stationarily mounted base members fixaperture 111 531d base member tenqlng to 131218 531d edly mounted at the rear end of said front portion, actuator'means toward a f P said base members including a laterally extending swltchmg means statlonanly mounted n 0116 6nd of said housing in operative engagement with said actuator means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the other ends of the longitudinally extending portions of the actuator are configured to remova'bly receive a push button.

6. In combination with electrical switching apparatus of the class having a non-circular longitudinally extending housing, mounting means for removably mounting the apparatus in apertures therefor comprising in combination;

(a) -a pair of complementary disposed laterally extending portions stationarily disposed in proximity to the front portion of an electrical switching device, said switching device also having a laterally extending the from side of one of Said base members; panel engaging portion at the front end thereof, said (d) longitudinally elongated latching contact members, laterally extendmg Demons havmg rearwardly each having a latching aperture at the front end, a P F and' laterally extendmg aperture retaining aperture intermediate the end, and a further m Proxlmlty the from 9 thereof; 'i aperture at the rear end said latching members expanel eligaglpg members havmg ends reclprocably tending through the rear and of the front portion ournaled 111 said apertures for movement toward and of said housing, said latching contact members being 32 2 3 2 2:5 iggigg g ggg gz ig positioned in overlying relationship to the grooves b p t b y g fi O dis osed in the sid s of the front portion of said y am Sal mem ers on 52-11 amt-a y extendmg h P b 21 portions whereby a panel having a suitable aperture Ouslng mam all is engaged intermediate the panel engaging portion of said switching device and the forward outermost lateral extremities of said panel engaging members.

7. In combination with electrical switching apparatus of the class having a non-circular longitudinally extending housing, mounting means for removably mounting 9. the apparatus in apertures therefor comprising in combination;

(a) a pair of complementary disposed laterally extending portions stationarily mounted on the front portion of an electrical switching device, said switching device also having a laterally extending panel engaging portion at the front end thereof, said laterally extending portions having a rearwardly opening groove and a laterally extending aperture parallel tosaid groove and in proximity to the front of said switching device; and

(b) substantially C-shaped panel engaging members having ends reciprocably journaled in said aperture for movement toward and away from one another and an intermediate portion positioned in said rearwardly opening groove to thereby retain said member on said laterally extending portion, the opening of said C-shaped member being disposed toward the front portion of said switching device, whereby a panel having a suitable aperture therethrough is engaged intermediate the panel engaging portion of said switching device and the forward outermost lateral extremities of said panel engaging members.

8. Electrical push button switch apparatus comprising in combination;

(a) an elongated hollow housing having front and rear portions, said front portion including means for removably mounting said housing on a panel adapted to receive the same and having a pair of complementary disposed, inwardly opening longitudinally extending grooves;

(-b) a pair of longitudinally extending contact members, said members being stationarily mounted in the front portion of said housing, each having latch receiving apertures in proximity to the front ends thereof;

(c) \a plurality of longitudinally displace able contact members and connecting means therefor stationarily mounted in the front portion of said housing; and

(d) a lamp carrier removably disposed in the front portion of said housing, said lamp carrier having a plurality of lamp receiving apertures disposed in cooperating registration with said displaceable contact members and contact means disposed in conductive relationship to said lamp apertures, said contact means having a pair of complementary laterally disposed forwardly extending portions positioned in conductive engagement with the front extremities of said longitudinally extending contact members, said last named portions also having outwardly laterally extending portions removably engaging the latch receiving apertures in said longitudinally extending contact members.

9. Electrical push button switch apparatus comprising in combination;

(a) an elongated hollow housing having front and rear portions, said front portion including means for removably mounting said housing on a panel adapted to receive the same and having a pair of complementary disposed, inwardly opening longitudinally extending grooves;

(b) a pair of longitudinally extending contact members, said members being stationanily mounted in the front portion of said housing, each having latch receiving apertures in proximity to the front ends thereof and a groove engaging portion extending outwardly from said aperture;

(c) a plurality of longitudinally displaceable contact members and connecting means therefor stationarily mounted in the front portion of said housing;

(d) a lamp carrier removably disposed in the front portion of said housing, said lamp carrier having a plurality of lamp receiving apertures disposed in cooperating registration with said displaceable con tact members and contact means disposed in conductive relationship to said lamp apertures, said contact means having a pair of complementary disposed forwardly extending portions positioned in engagement with the front extremities of said longitudinally extending contact members, said last named portions also having outwardly laterally extending portions in removable engagement with the latch receiving apertures in said longitudinally extending contact members;

(e) current controlling contact means stationarily mounted on the rear portion of said housing; and

(f) actuator means reciproca'bly journaled in the grooves in the front portion of said housing and extending longitudinally therethrough into operative engagement with said current controlling contact means.

10. Electrical push button switch apparatus comprising in combination;

(a) an elongated hollow housing having front and rear portions, said front portion having a pair of complementary disposed, inwardly opening longitudinally extending grooves;

(b) a pair of longitudinally extending contact members, said members being stationarily mounted in the front portion of said housing, each having latch receiving apertures in proximity to the front ends thereof and a groove engaging portion extending outwardly from said aperture;

(c) a plurality of longitudinally displaceable contact members and connecting means therefor stationarily mounted in the front portion of said housing;

(d) a lamp carrier removably disposed in the front portion of said housing, said lamp carrier having a plurality of lamp receiving apertures disposed in cooperating registration with said displaceable contact members and contact means disposed in conductive relationship to said lamp apertures and having a pair of complementary disposed forwardly ex tending portions positioned in conductive engagement with the front extremities of said longitudinally extending con-tact members, said last named portions also having outwardly laterally extending portions in removable engagement with the apertures in said longitudinally extending contact members;

(e) current controlling contact means stationar-ily mounted on the rear portion of said housing; and

( f) actuator means extending longitudinally of the front portion of said housing and reciprocably journaled therein said actuator means extending through the front portion of said housing into cooperating operative relationship with said current controlling contact means.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the other end of the hollow housing includes a pair of complementary disposed laterally extending portions stat-ion-arily mounted in proximity to said other end and further includes a laterally extending panel engaging portion at said end thereof, said laterally extending portions having a rearwardly opening groove and a laterally extending aperture in proximity to said laterally extending panel engaging portion; and panel engaging members having ends reciprocably journaled in said aperture for movement toward and away from one another and an intermediate portion positioned in said reanwardly opening groove to thereby retain said members on said laterally extending portion whereby a panel having a suitable aperture is engaged intermediate the panel engaging portion of said housing and the forward outermost lateral extremities of said panel engaging members.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 in which a pair of complementary disposed laterally extending portions are stationarily mounted in proximity to the front end portion of the elongated hollow housing, the front end of the hollow housing is provided with laterally extending panel engaging portions, and said laterally extending portions include a rearwardly opening groove and a laterally extending aperture in proximity to the front end of the hollow housing; and panel engaging mem bers having ends reoiprooab-ly journaled in said aperture for movement toward and away from one another and an intermediate pontion positioned in said rearward opening groove to thereby retain said member on said laterally extending portion whereby a panel having a suitable aperture is engaged intermediate the panel engaging portion of said switching device and the forward outermost lateral extremities of said panel engaging members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Bateheller 200168 Farison 200-468 Ireland 200167 Roeser 200-167 Examiners.

H. O. I ONES, Assistant Examiner. 

3. ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION; (A) AN ELONGATED HOLLOW HOUSING, SAID HOUSING HAVING AT LEAST A PAIR OF COMPLEMENTARY DISPOSED INWARDLY OPENING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVES; (B) A BASE MEMBER STATIONARILY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, SAID BASE MEMBER INCLUDING A LATERAL APERTURE EXTENDING INTERMEDIATE THE GROOVES IN SAID HOUSING; (C) ACTUATOR MEANS HAVING A PAIR OF LATERALLY DISPOSED, LONGIDTUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTIONS RECIPROCABLY JOURNALED IN SAID GROOVES AND HAVING A LATERALLY EXTENDING PORTION EXTENDING INTERMEDIATE ONE END OF SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTIONS AND DISPOSED IN THE LATERALLY EXTENDING APERTURE IN SAID BASE MEMBER; AND (D) SWITCHING MEANS STATIONARILY MOUNTED ON ONE END OF SAID HOUSING IN OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ACTUATOR MEANS. 